56k Modem dialing up at 33.6k? Please Help!

I have been running XP for about a month or two now. I didnt have too many dramas with compatibility although my ESS Superlink-M DATA FAX Modem (internal) is causing me problems.
I dial up to my ISP and damn, it says speed 33.6k. I disconnect and dial up again, still 33.6k. I try again and again, sitting through that annoying sound until FINALLY i get a 50.6k connection speed. I have installed the latest drivers but this still happens. I read up somewhere about entering in a custom "String" for initializing the modem in a certain way? Can someone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! show me the light! My phone bill is beast and I cant afford cable

When i had Win98, i connected everytime at 50.6k. I takes me about 2-5 retries at connecting to get a 50.6k with XP. When it does connect at 50.6k it takes lesser time to dialup than when it connects at 33.6k.